Ice-velocipede



(No Model.)

P. H. GLASS.

IGE VELOOIPBDE. No. 483,422. Patented Sept-2'7, 1892.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PHILIP I-I. CLASS, OF NORTHAMPTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

ICE-VELOCIPEDE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 483,422, datedSeptember 27, 1892.

Application filed February 16, 1892. Serial No. 421,666. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PHILIP I-I. CLAss, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Northampton, in the county of Hampshire and Stateof Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inIce- Cycles, of which the'following is a specification, reference beinghad therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in ice-cycles or improvedattachments for bicycles, more particularly to that class wherein aWheel provided with suitable devices for engaging the surface of the iceis employed to facilitate propulsion.

The object of the invention is to produce a construction in form of anice-cycle and also improved attachments whereby the ordinary bicycle maybe readily and conveniently converted into an ice-cycle 0r ice-bicycle;furthermore, in the employment of suitable means, in combination with awheel, whereby an easy and uniform motion is produced and the machinerelieved from all jolting, racking, &c., and finally to produce suchpeculiar construction, in combination with a wheel of a machine, bywhich an elastic or yielding connection is produced between the machineproper and the runners to insure against accident, as in case oftwisting strains, either longitudinal or transverse.

With these objects in view the invention consists of an improved form ofice-cycle comprising the ordinary framework of the bicycle, incombination with a wheel provided with a number of spring pawls orcreepers, which are normally held in position to engage the surface ofthe ice, means whereby the pawls or creepers automatically operate toobviate all shocks, jarrings &c., by moving against the action of thesprings as said pawls or creepers arrive at a point adjacent to thelower end of the vertical axis of the wheel; furthermore, in thecombination, with an ordinary bicycle-frame, of a wheel provided with anumber of spring pawls or creepers arranged in pairs and suitablyconnected and pivoted by means of pins, springs secured to the felly ofsaid wheel and bearing on a second series of connecting-pins, wherebythe pointed or sharp ends of said pawls or creepers are normally held inposition to readily engage the surface of the ice, suitably-mountedrunners arranged in pairs and adapted to support the entire machine, abrake consisting of the usual bell-crank levers and connectingrods, andthe brake proper in the form of a bellcrank lever provided with a sharpor pointed arm, to engage the surface of the ice and cause a resistancesufficient to overcome the momentum of the machine.

Furthermore, the invention consists in various novel details ofconstruction, whereby the objects are attained.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, in which likeletters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views,Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of my improved form of ice-cycle,showing a machine of special construction and particularly adapted totravel on ice. Figs. 2 and 3 are detail views of front attachmentswhereby an ordinary form of bicycle may be converted into an ice-cycle.vation showing the rear runner and bracerods attached to the frame of abicycle. Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of the same, shown detached. Fig. 6is a detail view in side elevation of a portion of the rear or drivingwheel, showing the arrangement of the pawls, braces, and runners; andFig. 7 is a detail view of the runners.

In the drawings, A indicates an ice-cycle,

wherein the framework of an ordinary bicycle is used, together with thedriving-gear, seat, dvc.

B indicates a wheel provided at equidistant points near the peripherywith the double spring pawls or creepers b, as shown Figs. 1 and 6.These pawls or creepers b are arranged on each side of the wheel-band,connected in pairs by the pivoted pins b which pass through the felly ofwheel B, and to further insure against breakage or disarrangement ofparts a second pin is provided to connect them at 12 which also acts asa bearing for the springs b whereby the pawls are normally held with thesharp or pointed ends in position to engage the surface of the ice asthe wheel is revolvcd.

Referring to Fig. 6, it will be seen that the pawl C is in position totake into the ice, and, further, that the weight of the machine willforce the point downwardly, at the same time Fig. 4 is a view in sideelerelieving pawl 0 by allowingit to turn on its pivot 12 against theaction of the spring 12 until the point is out of engagement with theice, when the spring acts and it is forced into position to engage asthe wheel makes a revolution. Owing to the resistance of the spring, theload or weight will be gradually transferred without causing anyunevenness or jolting as the machine moves forward, thereby obviatingthe greatest objection to the use of cycles for ice travel.

It will be understood that the arrangement and construction of the pawlsmay be altered, if desired, to obtain the better results by increasingor diminishing the number, making the springs adjustable to securedifferent tensions, and changing the form of pawl herein illustrated anddescribed.

On each side of the wheel B the runners D are pivotally secured to anextension at of the frame. These runners are formed of thin plateshaving concave faces d Fig. 5, and are connected by the pins 01 atsuitable points, preferably near their curved orturnedup ends, to allowfull space for the pawls to operate as the machine travels forward.

The letter e denotes a socket through which passes the steering-rod ewhich is capable of rotating therein, said rod having pivoted to itslower end a steering-runner E and at its upper end provided withsteeringhandle 6 The socket e at its rear side is provided with twoscrew-threaded bosses to receive the similarly-threaded ends of thebrace-rods 6 6 The brake F, mounted on the pivotal pin h2 of the rearrunners D, is formed of a bellcrank lever provided with a pointed ortapered end f for engagement with the surface of the ice. Motion istransmitted to the brake by means of a series of suitably-arrangedlevers and rods of the usual form now in use on bicycles.

In Figs. 2 and 3 I have illustrated one form of attachment whereby theforward runner F may be secured to the fork of a bicycle, and consistsof a central rod G, bifurcated at its upper end and provided with strapsg 9 by which the branch arms 9 g are rigidly held in position. Aboutmidway of the rod G is an upwardly-projecting arm 9 terminating in asocket 9 adapted to be secured on the wheelshaft by nuts 9 as shown.

Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate the attachment for the'rear runner D, whichconsists of the vertical brace-rods I-I, provided at their ends withsockets h h to receive bolts 72.2 k by which itis securedin position.Second bracerods H are pivotally mounted at their lower ends on thepivoted pink and provided at their upper ends with straps h, adapted tobe secured 011 the frame of the machine, as shown.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an ice-velocipede, the combination, with the frame and thesteering-rod provided at its lower end with a pivoted runner, of thevertical brace-rods provided at their lower ends with a pivoted runner,the wheel provided with a series of pivoted spring-actuated pawls orcatches upon each side, and the connection between said wheel and thetreadles, substantially as described.

2. The combination,in an ice-velocipede, of the propelling-wheelprovided with a series of pawls pivoted to each side thereof and pivotedtogether intermediate of their ends and the series of flat springssecured at one end of the said wheel and their free ends bearing againstthe intermediate pivots of the pawls, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the fork of a velocipede, of the rod G,bifurcated at its upper end, forming two arms g 9, provided with strapsg 9 by which it may be secured to said fork, the arm 9 adapted to engagewith the wheel-shaft journaled in the lower ends of said fork, and therunner E, pivoted to the lower end of said rod, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

PHILIP H. CLASS. Witnesses:

JOHN C. HAMMOND, LEWIS O. PARSONS.

